Tickets are going fast, but there are still ways to taste Oregon’s native white and black truffles

One of the world’s rarest cooking ingredients, white and black truffles, grow in spades in Oregon, and for the past 13 years, the Oregon Truffle Festival has connected eaters with the aromatic tubers. With tickets going fast, here’s what you need to know to get the most out of the 2018 event:

While almost everyone’s tried truffle oil, which is usually one note and fake, real truffles bring something new to the plate: a full bouquet of aromas as unique as the stretch of Oregon land upon which they grew. There’s no comparison, from native Oregon black truffles with tropical fruit aromas, to native Oregon white truffles, known for musk, garlic, and something just beyond description.

It’s impossible to cultivate many truffle varieties and difficult to preserve them, with fresh truffles having a shelf life of 10 days or less. Many varieties are only available a few months out of the year, too. The fact several culinary truffles grow in Oregon shouldn’t be squandered. It’s a chance to try the rare tuber without booking a flight to Europe or Australia.